Bethlehem, Thu 12.6.08, Morning

5:30 - 7:00 AM, Bethlehem Checkpoint: There are 6 boots open when we arrived at 5:30 and as usual,  a lot of crowding, pressure, shouting, etc. As usual, there is no special line for women, old people, children.

We have the feeling, that the structure of the place causes to extra pressure. People crowds especially at the first boots, which are the slowest because of the digital impressions checking.

The private security staff, that for a change were quiet business-like, and soldiers from the Border Police were at the place. The woman soldier at boot 3, was specially naughty. As usual, as part of the education workshop, she stopped checking people for more than 20 minutes. As usual, people did not order themselves differently since they could not do so. And as usual, when she re-started working, things were exactly as when she stopped.

One man with entrance permit tried to cross with his daughter about 7 years old to visit his wife who was lying at a hospital. Since the girl had no entrance permit, he was denied entrance. No staff from the DCL present to take care of the issue.

When we left at 7:00 the place was still crowded.